Dynamic Rfid-Based Input Devices

1. A workstation comprising: an input station having a working surface; an RFID reading system having a plurality of RFID antennas provided on the working surface; and a computing device having a processor, wherein the computing device is in communication with the RFID reading system, and wherein the computing device is configured to at least: determine that a portable input pad associated with a worker is placed on the working surface, wherein the portable input pad comprises at least one flexible layer and a plurality of manually activated RFID tags, and wherein each of the plurality of manually activated RFID tags comprises a circuit configured to be closed by bioelectricity; identify the worker associated with the portable input pad; in response to identifying the worker associated with the portable input pad, configure an application operating on the computing device for the worker; receive information regarding a plurality of RFID signals transmitted by at least some of the plurality of manually activated RFID tags to at least one of the plurality of RFID antennas, wherein each of the RFID signals is transmitted in response to contact with a portion of the at least one flexible layer associated with one of the manually activated RFID tags by the worker; identify at least one action associated with the plurality of RFID signals based at least in part on the information regarding at least the plurality of RFID signals; and cause the at least one action to be executed by the application.

2. The workstation of claim 1 , wherein the computing device is further configured to at least: receive information regarding at least one RFID signal transmitted by an RFID transmitting device associated with the worker to at least one of the plurality of RFID antennas, wherein the worker is identified based at least in part on the information regarding the at least one RFID signal.

3. The workstation of claim 1 , wherein the computing device is further configured to at least: in response to identifying the worker associated with the portable input pad, identify at least a preference of the worker; and wherein the application operating on the computing device is configured for the worker based at least in part on the preference of the worker.

4. The workstation of claim 1 , further comprising at least one feedback device, wherein the computing device is further configured to at least: provide feedback to the worker in response to at least one of the plurality of RFID signals by the at least one feedback device, wherein the at least one feedback device comprises at least one of a haptic vibrating element, an audio speaker or an LED light.

5. The workstation of claim 1 , wherein the portable input pad comprises a top flexible layer joined to a bottom flexible layer, wherein the plurality of manually activated RFID tags are disposed between the top flexible layer and the bottom flexible layer, wherein the top flexible layer comprises a plurality of contact points provided thereon, wherein each of the plurality of contact points is associated with at least one of the manually activated RFID tags, wherein each of the contact points is provided above one of the plurality of RFID antennas when the bottom flexible layer is placed on the working surface, and wherein each of the plurality of RFID signals is transmitted in response to human contact with one of the contact points.

6. A method comprising: automatically recognizing a first portable input surface associated with a first worker by at least one computer processor, wherein the first portable input surface comprises at least one layer and a plurality of manually activated RFID transmitting devices disposed in association with the at least one layer, and wherein each of the plurality of manually activated RFID transmitting devices comprises a circuit configured to be closed by bioelectricity; in response to automatically recognizing the first portable input surface associated with the first worker, selecting one of a plurality of configurations for one of a first input station or a computer application associated with the first input station, wherein the first input station comprises at least one RFID receiving device; receiving information regarding a first RFID signal transmitted from at least one of the plurality of manually activated RFID transmitting devices of the first portable input surface to the first input station; interpreting the information regarding the first RFID signal in accordance with the selected configuration by the at least one computer processor; associating the interpreted information regarding the first RFID signal with at least one of the first worker or the first portable input surface by the at least one computer processor; and storing at least some of the interpreted information regarding the first RFID signal in at least one data store.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising: identifying at least one action associated with the first RFID signal by the at least one computer processor based at least in part on the interpreted information regarding the first RFID signal; and executing the at least one action by the at least one computer processor.

8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising: determining an identity of the first worker by the at least one computer processor.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein determining the identity of the first worker further comprises: receiving information regarding a second RFID signal transmitted from an automatic RFID device associated with the first worker, wherein the identity of the first worker is determined based at least in part on the second RFID signal, wherein the one of the plurality of configurations for the one of the first input station or the computer application is selected based at least in part on the first RFID signal and the identity of the first worker.

10. The method of claim 6 , wherein selecting the one of the plurality of configurations comprises: in response to automatically recognizing the first portable input surface associated with the first worker, determining a preference of the first worker by the at least one computer processor, wherein the preference is at least one of a handedness or a language of the first worker, and wherein the one of the plurality of configurations is selected based at least in part on the preference of the first worker.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising: automatically recognizing a second portable input surface associated with a second worker by the at least one computer processor, wherein the second portable input surface comprises at least one layer and a plurality of manually activated RFID transmitting devices disposed in association with the at least one layer; receiving information regarding a second RFID signal transmitted from at least one of the plurality of manually active RFID transmitting devices of the second portable input surface to the first input station; associating the information regarding the second RFID signal with the at least one of the second worker or the second portable input surface by the at least one computer processor; and determining at least one of an identity of the second worker, a preference of the second worker, a qualification of the second worker or a permission of the second worker by the at least one computer processor, wherein the one of the plurality of configuration is selected based at least in part on the at least one of the identity of the second worker, the preference of the second worker, the qualification of the second worker or the permission of the second worker.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least one of the first portable input surface or the computer application is configured to receive RFID signals from the first portable input surface and the second portable input surface substantially simultaneously in the selected configuration.

13. The method of claim 6 , wherein the first portable input surface comprises a top layer and a bottom layer, and wherein the plurality of manually activated RFID tags are disposed between the top layer and the bottom layer.

14. The method of claim 6 , wherein the at least one layer comprises at least one of a paper layer, a plastic layer, a rubber layer or a fabric layer.

15. The method of claim 6 , wherein the first input station comprises at least one of: a first RFID receiving device disposed in a working surface at the first input station; or a second RFID receiving device mounted above at least a portion of the first input station.

16. The method of claim 6 , wherein the first input station comprises at least one feedback device, and wherein the method further comprises: generating feedback by the at least one feedback device in response to the first RFID signal.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the at least one feedback device comprises an audio speaker, a display apparatus, an illuminator or a haptic vibrating element.

18. A method comprising: receiving, at an RFID reading system provided in association with an input station, a first RFID signal transmitted by an automatic RFID device associated with a first worker; receiving, at the RFID reading system provided in association with the input station, a second RFID signal transmitted by a manually activated RFID tag provided on at least one flexible layer of a portable input surface, wherein the manually activated RFID tag comprises a circuit configured to be closed by bioelectricity, and wherein the second RFID signal is transmitted by the manually activated RFID tag upon contact with at least a portion of the portable input surface by the first worker; identifying a confluence of RFID signals comprising the first RFID signal and the second RFID signal; in response to identifying the confluence of RFID signals, providing feedback to the first worker by at least one feedback device associated with the input station; selecting a configuration of the computer system for the first worker; determining at least one action associated with the second RFID signal based on the selected configuration; and causing, by the at least one computer processor, the computer system to execute the at least one action associated with the second RFID signal.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the circuit comprises a programmable memory component, and wherein the method further comprises: providing information regarding the at least one action to the programmable memory component over a network, wherein the second RFID signal comprises at least some of the information regarding the action provided to the programmable memory component.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the at least one feedback device is one of a haptic vibration element, an audio speaker, an LED light or a display apparatus, and wherein providing the feedback to the first worker by the at least one feedback device comprises: causing the haptic vibration element to vibrate for a predetermined time; causing the audio speaker to emit at least one sound; causing the LED light to illuminate at least the portion of the portable input surface; or causing information associated with at least one of the first RFID signal or the second RFID signal to be displayed on the display apparatus.

21. The method of claim 6 , wherein the first input station comprises a working surface having a plurality of RFID receiving devices disposed in predetermined locations in association with the working surface, wherein the first RFID signal is transmitted from a first manually activated RFID transmitting device of the portable input surface to a first RFID receiving device disposed in a first location in association with the working surface, and wherein interpreting the information regarding the first RFID signal in accordance with the selected configuration comprises: determining a first action associated with the first RFID signal based at least in part on the selected configuration; and wherein the method further comprises: executing the first action by the computer application.

22. The method of claim 6 , wherein selecting the one of the plurality of configurations comprises: determining a language preferred by the first worker; and wherein the method further comprises: causing a display of a message on at least one computer display, wherein the message is displayed in the language preferred by the first worker.